The Legal 500

January 2010: Last year (2009) proved to be an excellent year for Albar & Partners in the practice area of Islamic Finance as we continued to receive widespread recognition from the Islamic Finance industry's leading publications.

Yorkshire law firm Gordons has expanded its corporate department with the appointment of Andrew Morris, formerly partner at international law firm DLA Piper's Leeds and Sheffield offices.

Leeds and Bradford law firm Gordons has announced a 2.1 per cent improvement in turnover to £21.7m for the last financial year making it the seventh successive year that the firm has recorded a year-on-year increase in revenue.

One of Yorkshire's highest profile Indian restaurant chains sought commercial property and licensing advice from Leeds and Bradford law firm Gordons to enable it to open its ninth restaurant.

Leeds and Bradford law firm Gordons has renewed its exclusive contract with Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) for both secured and non-secured legal work for the next three years.

Leeds and Bradford law firm Gordons has advised investment and development company 4Urban Limited on its multi million pound redevelopment of the Myrtle Walk Shopping Centre, Bingley.  

AstapovLawyers scored significant victories in the International FOSFA Arbitration in two parallel arbitration proceedings on amount over U.S. $ 3 million in the process of protecting the interests of a large Kazakhstan grain trade company against a large Dutch company. The controversy dealt with the application of English substantive law. At issue was the fact of the contract due to lack of signatures and seals of both parties, despite the direct requirements of the contract to acquire the legal force only in the appropriate form.

Starting November 1, 2009 AstapovLawyers was annonced as a prefered law firm for providing professional opinion on current legal developments in Ukraine for Interfax-Ukraine. The project is named "Ukrainian Legislation Review" with daily comments by our lawyers for Interfax news

AstapovLawyers International Law Group is pleased to announce that Ms. Victoria Buzhor joins Kyiv's office International Corporate Department as a new Associate.

On December 15, 2009 Mr. Andrey Astapov, Managing Partner of AstapovLawyers, participated in the conference "International arbitration. The state and arbitration courts: partners or opponents?" organized by Russian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce - World Business Organization (ICC Russia) in conjuction with the International Court of Arbitration ICC and Russian Chamber of Commerce in Moscow.

On December 15, 2009 Ukrainian legal magazine Yuridicheskaya practika nominated AstapovLawyers as #9 among Ukrainian domestic law firms 2009.

On December 15, 2009 AstapovLawyers International Law Group in conjuction with IA Interfax Ukraine held a press conference on the topic: "Prospects for judicial reform in Ukraine". Among the briefing participants were Mr. Oleh Malskyy, Partner of AstapovLawyers, Mr. Alexander Volkov, a judge of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, Deputy Head of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, Mr. Volodymyr Bogatyr, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, as well as representatives from several law firms.

On 7-10 December 2009, Mr. Maksym Kodunov, Associate of AstapovLawyers, took part in the central event of the grain market of Russia - the Third International Conference "Russian Grain 2009" held in Krasnaya Polyana, Krasnodar region.

During a recent visit to New York Mr. Oleh Malskyy, AstapovLawyers' M&A Partner, and Mr. Oleh Beketov, AstapovLawyers' Senior Associate and the Head of International Litigation Department, held an executive meeting with several senior partners of leading New York law firms as well as prominent attorneys at the Harvard Club of New York City, a private club incorporated in 1887.

On December 8, 2009 Mr. Eugene Blinov, Senior Associate of AstapovLawyers, participated in the discussion of actual issues of German law during the round table: "Law made in Germany", organized by the German Embassy in Ukraine, the Union of the German avocats (DAV), Society of German and Ukrainian lawyers (GDUJ), as well as by the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ).

Bombardier Transportation has sold Bombardier Transportation (Power Converter Solutions) Germany GmbH to PCS Power Converter Solutions Verwaltungs AG. Bombardier Transportation (Power Converter Solutions) Germany GmbH develops, produces and delivers converters and electrical equipment for use in rail vehicles, the automobile industry and wind power stations.

Mannheimer Swartling has advised several individuals in a tax case before the Supreme Administrative Court in Sweden. The individuals were senior managers and had invested in shares of the company which employed them. Furthermore, these individuals were contractually bound by restrictions associated with their share ownership. The matter involved whether their share profits should be taxed as a capital gain or employment income. The Court ruled in favour of the taxpayers and stated that the income shall be taxed as a capital gain, which has a lower tax rate and does not require certain employer contributions to be paid.

Saimo Chahal, Head of Civil Liberties and Social Welfare at Bindmans LLP features in the 2010 edition of The Lawyer's Hot 100 report as one of the UK's leading Campaigning Lawyers. The Lawyer's annual Hot 100 recognises a group of lawyers who have been at the top of their games during the past 12 months.

Niederer Kraft & Frey wird jährlich zwei Auszeichnungen für hervorragend qualifizierte Master-Arbeiten im Rahmen des Master-Studienganges Business Law an der Universität Zürich (Master of Law UZH, Business Law) ausrichten. Die Auszeichnungen sind verbunden mit Preisen im Betrag von CHF 10'000 und CHF 6'000.

We are pleased to introduce our new partners

We are pleased to announce that Bär & Karrer's Litigation and Arbitration Department has been chosen as the winner of the Corporate Intl Magazine practice award as:

Ogier's BVI office has worked on three takeovers in quick succession. Starting in London the BVI corporate team worked with Herbert Smith on London listed ENRC's takeover of AIM listed CAMAC. Moving on to NASDAQ the office acted for the acquiror on the takeover of OpenTV, which was effected by an open offer. Finally, working alongside Skadden Arps the team is currently advising NASDAQ listed FGX International on the recommended bid from Essilor International. A BVI statutory merger is being used to effect the takeover which was recently announced.

KZR&P has just opened its Third Regional Office. After Warsaw and Kraków, the Firm has added Lublin to its National Network. Lublin has traditionally served as the hub for businesses in Eastern Poland.

By the Corporate INTL Magazine

The PJ Isola Foundation has today donated the sum of £2,000 to St Martin's School, a school dedicated to taking care of the special needs of some of Gibraltar's children.

The PJ Isola Foundation is supporting the Happy Faces trust in a number of projects in the New Year. In an interview with Christian Rocca, the Managing partner at ISOLAS and trustee of the Foundation, explained.

The PJ Isola Foundation today donated the sum of £1,000 to Women in Need, as part of its continuing efforts throughout the community. Collecting the cheque on behalf of Women in Need, Claire Borrell thanked everyone who took part in collecting the funds and explained that the money would be used for a variety of projects and that they were very grateful for the money.

Bombardier Transportation hat die Bombardier Transportation (Power Converter Solutions) Germany GmbH an die PCS Power Converter Solutions Verwaltungs AG verkauft. Bombardier Transportation (Power Converter Solutions) Germany GmbH entwickelt, produziert und liefert Stromrichter und elektrische Ausrüstungen für den Einsatz in Schienenfahrzeugen, in der Automobilindustrie und in Windkraftanlagen.

Hengeler Mueller hat Bombardier Transportation bei dieser Transaktion beraten. Tätig waren die Partner Dr. Cord-Georg Hasselmann (M&A/Gesellschaftsrecht, Federführung, Berlin) und Dr. Hans-Joachim Liebers (Arbeitsrecht, Frankfurt) sowie der Associate Dr. Timm Theilmann (Berlin).

7. Januar 2010

In January 2010, ROWAN LEGAL welcomes two Senior Associates with international education and experience. Specialists in ICT Law, Zbynek Loebl, LL. M. and Jiri Cerny, LL. M. will strengthen one of the main specialisations of ROWAN LEGAL.

The Brno office of ROWAN LEGAL has moved. As of December 1, 2009, the new address is Květná 34, Brno - Pisárky, Czech Republic. Opened in 2007, the Brno office of ROWAN LEGAL has been dynamically evolving since, resulting in a need to move to larger and more representative premises.

Again with the participation of Penkov, Markov & Partners

Round Table: on the Commercial Register organized by AmCham

On January 4, 2010, Novartis AG announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Alcon, the world's largest eye-care company, at USD 180 per share or USD 28 bn. overall. The deal is the second stage of a larger transaction originally struck in spring 2008, when Novartis purchased a 25 % stake in Alcon for USD 10.4 bn. from Nestlé and agreed on a put | call option structure giving Novartis the right to buy, and Nestlé the right to sell, the remaining 52 % of the company still owned by Nestlé.

Leading British Virgin Islands law firm Harneys has broken new ground by guiding its client Amber Petroleum Ltd (Amber) to a successful reverse takeover of AIM-listed AfNat Resources Limited (formerly Lithic Metals and Energy Limited) (AfNat) by means of a scheme of arrangement under section 179A of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (BCA).

4 January 2010 - Harneys is pleased to announce the making up of three new partners with effect from 1 January 2010. The new partners are Sarah Dobbyn and Jonathan Law in the firm’s Cayman Islands office and Johann E Henry in the British Virgin Islands.

Alpiq sign project development agreement with wind farm developer Kraftö Vind

This deal will mean that Rasta Group AB (publ) is acquiring both the business (Grand Hotel Opera) and the 9,000 square metre property (Nordstan Hotell & Förvaltning) from Brandel Invest & Förvaltning AB, which is owned by the Brandel.

On 2 October 2009, Lisa Länta was admitted as a member of Swedish Bar Association, and thus qualified as an advokat. On the same day, Lisa was granted a special dispensation allowing her to be called in to serve on an appellate court.

Gernandt & Danielsson has assisted E.ON Ruhrgas AG, Statoil ASA, DONG Energy Oil & Gas A/S och Fortum Heat and Gas Oy in the divestment of Swedegas AB to EQT Infrastructure Limited.

Gernandt & Danielsson has advised Nordstjernan in its acquisition of Rosti.

Hamilton har utsetts till Public Procurement Law Firm of the Year i Sverige 2009 vid en omröstning bland ACQ Finance Magazines cirka 35 000 läsare (ACQ Law Awards 2009).

Hamilton has been awarded as Public Procurement Law Firm of the Year in Sweden 2009 by the readers of ACQ Finance Magazine (ACQ Law Awards 2009).

Setterwalls is advising Thuban AB (jointly owned by Adam Gillberg and his family together with Monterro Holding and Martin Bjäringer) in its public offer for all shares in Ledsteirnan AB (publ). The shares in Ledstiernan are listed on the NSDAQ OMX Stockholm Stock Exchange.

Setterwalls, Clifford Chance and Jones Day have successfully defended a one billion US dollar arbitral award in the Svea Court of Appeal, Stockholm

From 1 January 2010 the following have been appointed as Partners at Wikborg Rein

In September this year our chairman, Andreas Neocleous, presented a seminar in China concerning investment in Cyprus and the uses of Cyprus corporate structures for investment worldwide. The Ambassador of Cyprus in Beijing, Mr Marios Ieronymides, welcomed more than sixty prominent businessmen, professionals and officials to the event.

Browell Smith & Co is celebrating after the country's biggest personal injury campaigning group awarded a quality kitemark in recognition of its expertise and professionalism.

Browell Smith & Co were delighted to recently attend and support Reclaim the Night. The event supported the victims of domestic violence.

The achievements of Wistrand and its lawyers have again been recognized, this time by IFLR 1000. IFLR1000 is the only publication focusing on leading law firms for corporate finance worldwide. The guide is now in its 20th edition, and has grown to cover more than 100 jurisdictions. Wistrand is recommended in the following areas: Capital Markets, Banking and project finance, M&A.